Girl Power! Extreme Esteem Workshops
Buffalo County Community Health Partners, an organization dedicated to assessing, promoting, and strengthening the health of individuals in Kearney, Nebraska, and the Goldenrod Girl Scout Council sponsored a series of workshops called "Girl Power! Extreme Esteem." The workshops gave girls and their parents an opportunity to learn about dating, domestic violence, teen pregnancy prevention, alcohol- and drug-free lifestyle benefits, and general body awareness.
The idea for the workshops originated after participants of an adult symposium on domestic violence prevention decided that a similar program was needed for girls. A small group of women met and formed a planning committee. The committee organized under the umbrella of the Buffalo County Health Partners Work Group on Teen Pregnancy Prevention, a task force charged with reducing the teen pregnancy rate for girls in the county. In addition to the Goldenrod Girl Scout Council, the organizations represented on the planning committee included the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Education Program, the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) Center, Kearney Public Schools, the Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Center, the Eaton Corporation, Teen Net, Women's Health Services, Curtis & Associates, the Medical Alliance, and Tobacco-Free Buffalo County.
Program Format
The planning committee decided on an evening workshop format for 12- to 16-year-old girls. Two workshops were held with a total attendance of more than 100 girls and parents. As a result of the success of the workshops, the committee modified the program slightly and organized a third workshop for younger girls, ages 9 to 11, and their parents. That workshop drew more than 60 girls and parents.
The two workshops for older girls began with a general session, "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," focusing on dating violence and the difference between healthy and unhealthy dating relationships. Then participants were invited to attend three of four concurrent workshops, presented by panels of adults and youth from the community. The workshop topics were "What Part of 'No' Don't You Understand?" on sexual harassment; "Did I Shave My Legs for This?" on the realities of teen pregnancy; "What's Going on in This Body of Mine?" on how bodies change during the teenage years; and "A New Way of Thinking" on the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. The evening closed with a powerful and affirming Girl Power! rally.
The workshop for younger girls focused on healthy development and nutrition, alcohol and drug prevention, careers, personal safety, and basic violence prevention. Because of the girls' ages, the program was held on a Saturday rather than a weekday evening. The day began and ended with energizing large group sessions and included small group activity breaks during which girls could explore the Girl Power! Web site.
The workshops were promoted through the school system and the Goldenrod Girl Scout Council. The Council offered a free Girl Scout membership to any girl who attended the workshops. This membership offer served as a vehicle to establish long-term relationships with girls who attended the workshops and gave the girls access to trips, community service activities, troop involvement, and other benefits of scouting. The free memberships were supported by a community grant from the Nebraska State Regional III Behavioral Health Services.
Both girls and their parents gave positive feedback on the workshops. The girls' responses included, "The speakers were honest and spoke their feelings," "I liked how we got to talk to people about our problems and got good advice from the right people," and "I learned that you always have choices in what you want to do with your life." The parents' comments included, "I felt that this was the best evening I've spent in a long time" and "I am grateful for everyone's efforts to reach these girls. My daughter and I are happy to be part of this."
The group has continued to provide workshops each year for both younger and older girls. In November 1999, due to responses by parents and community groups following previous events, a workshop was organized for seventh- and eighth-grade boys. The Nebraska Council to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse developed a male campaign called "The Right Stuff," which was used as the workshop's foundation. The group also promotes Teen Pregnancy Prevention Awareness Month each May, by using local media to report on prevention efforts.
Media Outreach
Before the first two workshops, Buffalo County Community Health Partners sent a press release to the media detailing teen pregnancy statistics and explaining how the Girl Power! Extreme Esteem workshops sought to reduce teen pregnancy rates. The Kearney Hub, a local paper, wrote a substantial front-page article about the workshops.
Funding
The organizations that served on the planning committee contributed personnel and other resources to the program. They also solicited the support and participation of local businesses for refreshments and giveaway items. The committee is submitting grant requests to local community foundations for future Girl Power! Extreme Esteem workshops. The Buffalo County Community Health Partners granted $1,500 to the group in 1998. The funds were used to purchase Girl Power! baseball capsand printed materialsfrom the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Use of Girl Power! Products
Girl Power! diaries, bookmarks, pins, and book covers were given to the girls who attended the workshops. The planning committee used the Girl Power! logo to create their own Girl Power! T-shirts, which were given away as door prizes at the workshops.
